Southington Renames Pavilion After Beloved Parks Advocate

SOUTHINGTON, CT —An elected board charged with making tough decisions about Southington had, at its last meeting, one of its easiest decisions to render.

The Southington Town Council April 22 unanimously approved renaming the Southington Community Pavilion at the old Southington Drive-In site after beloved community servant Joe Laporte, who died on March 30.

Laporte, who was 90, had served for 30-plus years on the Southington Parks and Recreation Commission, playing a major role over the decades in creating youth soccer and youth wrestling programs in town.

He was also a major figure in the annual Italian-American Festival in Southington and helped to create the Western Little League in town.

LaPorte, meanwhile, also served two terms on the Southington Town Council and was active in several civic organizations in the area as well as his church.

"There are only a handful of Joe's generation still around that have done so much for his or her community," Councilman Michael DelSanto said.

"Joe was everywhere. Whether it was sitting or dancing or singing at 'Music on the Green' front and center with his beautiful wife Delores every Wednesday night, or showing up at a random Little League game, he always had a smile on his face and he loved to be with his community."

DelSanto said Laporte was firmly committed to building the pavilion and incorporating it into the parks department, so renaming it after him was a logical decision.

"I've heard from reliable sources it was one of his last great hurrahs and he was very, very proud of it," DelSanto said.

The pavilion, which provides covered shelter outdoors, is frequently rented out by families, groups, and organizations as a party/picnic site at Recreation Park, 995 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike.

DelSanto motioned to put renaming the pavilion after LaPorte on that night's agenda, drawing loud applause.

Prior to renaming the pavilion, the council had to approve a waiver of Southington's naming policy, which mandates a five-year waiting period to name something after someone who has passed.

And, in a town that, sometimes, fights along partisan lines, the two votes regarding LaPorte were no-brainers and were resoundingly supported on both sides of the aisle.

Former council chairperson Victoria Triano, who retired from the council last year, spoke during public comments and resoundingly supported the name change.

"I am so touched Michael that you are making this motion. Anyone who knew Joe knew that he operated from the heart. He was principled in so many ways," Triano said. "He just made such an impression on my heart my whole life."

An emotional Dan Laporte, Joe Laporte's son, spoke before the council, saying his father was all about serving the town.

"Community is the main word and the pavilion is community," Dan LaPorte said tearfully.

For the minutes of the April 22 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.